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Kotomora

脚

skids, leg, undercarriage, lower part, base

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 2,000Strokes11

Readings

On'yomi

  • キャク
  • キャ
  • カク

Kun'yomi

  • あし

Nanori

  • し

Meaning

脚 centers on the lower supporting part of something: a leg, a base, or an undercarriage. The skids sense is a specific application of that same supporting lower structure.

Most common words using 脚

20 of 99
  • 脚きゃく

    counter for chairs or seats

  • 脚本きゃくほん
    N1

    script; screenplay; scenario

  • 失脚しっきゃく

    losing one's position; losing one's standing; downfall; fall (from power); being overthrown

  • 三脚さんきゃく

    tripod; three legs

  • 脚光きゃっこう

    footlight; limelight

  • 脚色きゃくしょく
    N1

    dramatization (e.g. of a novel); dramatisation; adaptation (for the stage or screen)

  • 行脚あんぎゃ

    pilgrimage

  • 両脚りょうあし

    both legs

  • 脚立きゃたつ

    stepladder; steps

  • 脚注きゃくちゅう

    footnote

  • 二人三脚ににんさんきゃく

    three-legged race

  • 立脚りっきゃく
    N1

    being based on

  • 橋脚きょうきゃく

    bridge pier; pontoon bridge

  • 脚力きゃくりょく

    leg strength; walking ability; running ability

  • 脚気かっけ

    beriberi; severe thiamine deficiency

  • 飛脚ひきゃく

    express messenger; postman; mailman; courier

  • 脚長きゃくちょう

    leg length (welding); length of fillet weld

  • 日脚ひあし

    daytime

  • 舞脚まいあし

    kanji "dancing legs" radical (radical 136)

  • 脚線美きゃくせんび

    beauty of slender female legs

Explore all words using 脚 →

Study

Etymology

脚 combines ⺼ (flesh/body part) with 却, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of retreating or bending, together suggesting the leg as a body part that bends.

Meaning mnemonic

The flesh radical ⺼ on the left marks a body part, and 却 on the right looks like a bent knee and foot. Together they form the leg, the body's lower support.

Reading mnemonic

For キャク, imagine a leg kicking a ball: kick -> キャク, and the leg is the body part that kicks.